Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-03-16
A NOTABLE LIFE.
ContemporaDeous with the Entire Period
of American Government.

Contemporaneous with the Entire Period
of American Government.
On Thursday of last week man died at
Keller who had strange history. Walter
o. Maley was long a resident of Inyo county
and was very old man when he first came
here. Another old man, and pioneer of
the county, Thomas McDonough, worked
with 0'Malley at Downieville, Sierra
county, in 1851; and he says OMalley was
then an old man. A very short converse
ton with the deceased was enough to con-
vince anyone that he had received liberal
education in youth. He spoke the French
language huently and with good accent.
When young he had been a good Latin
scholar though long neglect had let that
language and literature become dim in his
memory. He was not much given to talk
of his early life but the few now in lnyo
county who ever heard him speak on that
subject believe implicitly every word be
said. None of these can remember that
he ever named the year of his birth. As
learned from his conversation from time to
time, he was born in county Mayo, Ireland.
He was entered as student at MayDooth
College, near Dublin, and got his education
there. The disastrous ending OF the Irish
rebellion in 1898 had not deferred others
from plotting to get free of English tyrrany.
III,
of the French. The sanguine Irish people
thought that the new Emperor and mighty
conqueror might be induced to send them
aid. Secret meetings were held and dele
gates chosen to go to Paris and ask for
help. The closest watch was kept of the
Irish coast by English armed vessels but
in a smuggling lugger the delegates man.
aged to elude the blockade, got 20 sea and
reached the French coast in safety. Young
OMalley accompanied the delegates, and
was admitted with them TO the presence of
the Emperor. Napoleon amused the dele
gates with vague promises; the camp at
Boulogne had been formed a mighty army
was organized for the invasion of England,
and only awaited the arrival of the French
fleet, under Admiral Villeneuve to attempt
a repetition of the exploit accomplished by
Norman William, seven hundred and thirty
years before. But, alas for the hopes of
Ireland. the diminutive body that contained
the mighty soul of Horatio Nelson encoun-
tered Villeneuve; the French fleet was de-
stroyed; the invasion ofssEngland abandon
ed the camp at Boulogne was broken up
and Napoleon marched his army to Ulm
and Austerlitz O'Malley prolonged his
stay in France, not returning to his native
land till some years after the final downfall
of Napoleon, in 1915. In 1884 he came to
Inc united StdleS, ana was among lHe au-
venturous men who rushed to California in
1S49 He became infatuated with prospect
ing for gold and silver, and continued an
eager prosDector up 10 within very short
time OF his death. He was last at Inde-
peHdence a little more than year ago, and
made the trip from Darwin, distance of
56 miles, on foot. Such a story may be
thought incredible. IF true, o. Malley must
have been very nearly, if not quite, as old
as our republic He could hardly be less
than 40 years old. 1t should be borne in
mind that there is living and good evidence
that he was very old man at least thirty
six years ago More than one witness
would testify that he was truthful, hon
orable man, not given to idle talk, nor yet
prone to speak of himself. No one of these
witnesses has the least doubt of the entire
truth Of his story, however strange it may
appear to others-Iayo Independent, March
I2fh